Ideology of hate will not divide us, Duke tells New Zealand
THE Duke of Cambridge has accused social media giants of allowing “hateful propaganda to inspire” the New Zealand terror attack in a hard-hitting address to survivors of the atrocity.
Declaring that “extremism in all its forms must be defeated”, the Duke told worshippers at the
Al Noor mosque in Christchurch, where 42 were shot dead last month: “We must unite to reform the social technology that allowed hateful propaganda to inspire the murder of innocents.” The Duke later visited Linwood Islamic Centre, where eight people were killed. Speaking during his twoday visit, he said: “The message from Christchurch could not be more clear – the global ideology of hate will fail to divide us.” After his Islamic greeting “As-salam Alaykum”, he said: “A terrorist attempted to sow division and hatred in a place that stands for togetherness and selflessness. I am here to help you show the world that he failed.” Revealing how he “could not believe the news” of the “unspeakable hate” that had unfolded, he reflected on the death of his mother.
“I have had reasons myself to reflect on grief and sudden pain and loss in my own life. What I have realised is that, of course, grief can change your outlook.
“But I do not believe that grief changes who you are. Grief – if you let it – will reveal who you are. It can reveal depths that you did not know you had. The startling weight of grief can burst any bubble of complacency in how you live your life, and help you to live up to the values you espouse.”
Praising the “extraordinary leadership” of Jacinda Ardern, the prime minister, he echoed The Daily Telegraph’s Duty of Care campaign by calling for social media giants to be more accountable after it was revealed footage of the killing spree can still be found online.